Top Eye Doctors in Fort Myers

We are confident that you will find the top eye doctors in Fort Myers at Elmquist Eye Group. Our experienced team gives you access to a complete range of eye doctors with different training, expertise, and unique strengths.

Dr. E. Trevor Elmquist is a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) and a board certified ophthalmologist. He has been selected for four years in a row as one of America’s Top Doctors in ophthalmology by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a list that’s reserved for the top one percent of doctors in each medical field, both nationally and regionally, based on the nominations of other physicians.

Dr. Elmquist and his highly skilled associates, including Dr. Kate Wagner, partner, Dr. Nina Burt, and Dr. Sarah Eccles-Brown, provide comprehensive eye care to thousands of patients in Lee County in state-of-the-art facilities using highly specialized equipment.

Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?

Doctors of Optometry (O.D.), or optometrists, like Dr. Wagner and Dr. Burt, provide primary vision care that ranges from eye tests and vision correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases, injuries, and disorders of the eye. Although they are not medical doctors, they are licensed to prescribe medications, counsel patients about surgical and non-surgical treatment options, and perform certain surgical procedures.

Ophthalmologists, like Dr. Elmquist and Dr. Eccles-Brown, are medical or osteopathic doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the comprehensive medical and surgical care of the eyes and vision. They are trained to diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery, and correct vision problems with eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Dr. Elmquist and Dr. Eccles-Brown are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Drs. Wagner and Burt are board certified by the Florida State Board of Optometry.

Does Board Certification Matter?

When you want the highest quality of care, it is advisable to seek a board certified ophthalmologist, such as Dr. Elmquist or Dr. Eccles-Brown, to be sure your eyesight is in the hands of a skilled physician who meets nationally recognized standards for education, knowledge and experience.

To earn board certification, a physician must spend several years after medical school in supervised training. He or she must then pass a written (and sometimes oral) exam to evaluate his or her medical knowledge and clinical judgment. Board certification has to be maintained with ongoing education and renewed on a regular basis.

Any M.D. or D.O. can claim to be board certified, but you should verify it by visiting the Certification Matters website. The site provides up-to-date information on physicians who have met the certification requirements of one of the 24 individual specialty boards managed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). You can also reach them by phone at (866) 275-2267.

To verify the certification of your Florida optometrist (O.D.), visit the Florida State Board of Optometry.

If your ophthalmologist or optometrist is not board certified, it could mean that he or she never applied for certification or did not meet the minimum requirements of the board.

Each member of our team at Elmquist Eye Group is among the top eye doctors in Fort Myers. If you are looking for the highest level of eye and vision care, get in touch with us at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment.